A A Development Model of the Potential of a Local Community to Manage Food and Nutrition System to Promote Community Nutrition in Ontai Sub-District, San Kamphaeng District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

          The objective of this participatory action research was to develop a model of the potential of a local community to manage food and nutrition system to promote community nutrition in Ontai Sub-District, San Kamphaeng District, Chiang Mai Province. There were two phases in the research procedure: Phase 1- finding, exploring, and analyzing problems: Phase 2- action planning. The key informants were 30 people selected through purposive sampling, including 1) the local administrative organization, 2) a Sub-District Health Promoting Hospital, 3) a school and a child development center, and 4) the people’s sector. Research instruments were: focus group discussion questions, a fruit and vegetable consumption record form, and a nutritional assessment form. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis

          The results revealed that

          1. Food and nutrition situation and local potential for food and nutrition management in the community. The problems were encountered 1) preschool and school-age nutrition status 2) inappropriate consumption behavior 3) lack of a system of monitoring the nutritional status of the parish (lack of data linkages, lack of nutrition surveillance equipment) 4) lack of continued  promotion of integration  5) the manpower of community nutritionist  is unclear 6) lack of development of civil society leaders (Sub -District nutrition Committee) 7) lack of management of the linkage system between producers and consumers

          2. A model of the potential of a local community to manage food and nutrition system to promote community nutrition was composed of: 1) set the goals and needs of the community; 2) social capital within a local food system; 3) the community network operations, including the  school and a child development center, a sub-district health promoting hospital, a community hospital, village leaders, and village health volunteers; 4) network connection process; 5) driving tools, consisting of a nutrition sub-district development planning, sharing problems, and participating in planning, cooperating, and evaluating; 6) network development activities, involving:  6.1) a child development center: developing teachers' potential in using media, promoting growing organic vegetables, and adding fruits and vegetables to meals; 6.2) a school: developing teachers' potential in nutritional surveillance, developing the potential of cooks, promoting growing organic vegetables, and promoting a school lunch program; 6.3) a sub-district health promoting hospital: supporting knowledge and monitoring nutrition status; 6.4) village leaders and village health volunteers: growing organic vegetables, building a safe vegetable and fruit chain system, and participating in nutritional monitoring; 7) finally, the result was “sub-district model of food and nutrition management in the community.”